Internet uses for STD surveillance and prevention

Background – The Internet has become near-ubiquitous in the modern world, with >2.1 billion users, many utilizing it to seek out health information (61% US adults). Approximately 1/3 of Internet searches are sex-related, with many individuals seeking sex partners and sexually transmitted infection (STD) information.

Objective – To identify and classify widespread Internet uses for STD intervention.

Methods – We performed a review of peer-reviewed English-language manuscripts published since 2000 to identify general classifications/types of Internet use.

Results – 271 articles were identified, many descriptive of Internet user characteristics. Intervention uses fell into five general categories: information collection (e.g. surveys), information provision, individual engagement (e.g. chat rooms; training), testing provision (e.g. online available sample kits), other services provision (e.g. condoms, treatments). Government and health departments were generally the most trusted and accurate providers of information, and frequent information collectors. Engagement via the Internet is generally effective, but frequently time consuming. Testing and other products may make screening and treatment more effective in some situations, but unreliable and unscrupulous sites are not readily identified as such and may erode public confidence.

Conclusions – The Internet has the potential to reach target populations disproportionate in scale to the energy and finances expended. However, the need for suitable marketing and technologically advanced personal limit the effectiveness of many interventions. Furthermore, the majority of studies target the gay population, with few examining other high risk groups such as adolescent heterosexuals and adult swingers. Finally, the utility of social media such as Facebook has not been adequately explored.